Office of Arts Education

Art Encounter

Art Encounter has been conducting art appreciation and creative workshops for students from kindergarten through high school for over thirty years. Art Encounter is unique in two ways: We bring “the museum to the school” presenting quality original works of art by Chicago area artists in the classroom. Instead of looking at pictures of paintings or sculptures, students can investigate how true color, size, textures and medium contribute to the meaning in an art work. The artworks we present are created by artists of diverse ethnic backgrounds. We are also unique in using a lively interactive discussion approach that helps students think critically and discover artistic concepts by sharing their perceptions. Students learn to see nuances; they learn to identify and articulate their own perceptions and to listen to each other’s points of view. The method helps them respect different ways of seeing. Following the discussions, students create their own art. The art projects reinforce the art concepts explored in the presentations of original art and provide opportunities for children to expand their imaginations. We design projects with classroom teachers that integrate art with classroom curricula helping students meet Illinois state standards in visual art and in the subject. Programs are team-led by two teaching artists who have completed an extensive training class in our interactive discussion approach. The teaching artists include their own work in a program allowing students to interview working artists about how they arrived at their ideas and their choice of techniques and materials. Art Encounter offers ARTiculations, an eight session art and writing project for third and fourth grades. Each session focuses on a different theme such as color or texture. After investigating original artworks based on the theme, students create their own art using a variety of artistic media. They they write about the art they viewed together or the art they created in exercises that range from poetry to description to narration. Students keep art journals to record their ideas for writing and to make sketches for art projects. ARTiculations includes a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago where students discuss, draw and write about famous paintings that reinforce the ideas presented in the classroom. Prior to the program, we meet with the classroom teachers to tailor the program for their classes. We have adapted Articulations for middle school students and have conducted the project in after-school programs. Art Encounter also offers year-long partnerships with schools. In these partnerships, we provide a three-part approach to art education including 1) Art appreciation –throughout the year, we present traveling art exhibits based on themes such as artistic elements e.g. color, texture or styles e.g. expressionism, surrealism, cubism or space e.g. still life, landscape or portrait. 2) Art exercises- students work with line, color mixing, shading, clay, observation, etc. and 3) Art integrated into subjects such as language arts science or math. Programs are designed to meet the Illinois State Standards in Visual Art for the specific grade level. Art Encounter has worked with special needs students who have learning disabilities or behavior disorders including teens in the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center. We have created tactile art programs for people who are visually impaired. Our staff of teaching artists includes art therapists. Art Encounter also conducts professional development workshops for classroom teachers and parent volunteers. Programs range from a half day to a five day series of workshops. Professional development programs focus on helping teachers talk about art using our interactive discussion approach. Teachers learn how to access artistic concepts in artworks and convert their knowledge into questions that stimulate lively group discussion. Workshops may focus on talking to students about their own work with a non-judgmental approach and how to effectively encourage students to talk about their own art. Programs offer 6 CEUs.

Overview of School Programs/Services

Classroom Support/Curricular Alignment